Rank Species | Genus Eleocharis Higher classification Eleocharis | |
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Similar Eleocharis, Sedges, Eleocharis rostellata, Eleocharis montevidensis, Eleocharis pachycarpa | ||
Eleocharis macrostachya is a species of spikesedge known by the common name pale spikerush.
It is widely distributed in North America and occurs in parts of South America. It is a plant of varied moist habitats, including freshwater lakes and brackish marshes and ponds, ditches, vernal pools, and wet meadows.
Description
Eleocharis macrostachya is a rhizomatous perennial generally reaching heights between one half and one meter. It has bright green erect stems and straw-colored basal leaves. The top of each stem is occupied by a narrow, lance-shaped or cylindrical inflorescence. The spikelet is one or two centimeters long and has at least ten flowers, each covered with a purplish-brown bract. The fruit is a yellow or yellow-brown achene with a whitish cone-shaped tubercle on one end, measuring one or two millimeters long.
